Tanzania

Travel Guide Africa Tanzania

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Introduction

Zebra fighting in Ngorongoro Crater

Zebra fighting in Ngorongoro Crater

© Di and Cam

Sailors return from Zanzibar with tales of the heavy scent of cloves that can be smelt even before the island is visible on the horizon. Zanzibar, known alternatively as the Spice Island, has made its impression on the world for centuries, acting as a significant trading port for Arabs and Europeans alike. Now, in a smart political move that's had great ramifications for tourists, the island has joined forces with Tanganyika to form Tanzania. Travelling there never looked so good. The fine attractions of Zanzibar are packaged together with the mainland's equally impressive collection of crowd-drawers: Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's tallest peak and arguably its most rewarding climb), Dar es Salaam (the capital and hub of cultural activity), Serengeti National Park (for East Africa's best safari) and the sensational Ngorongoro Crater. The range and frequency of Tanzania's highlights makes it one of your best bets for a great East African holiday.

Warning: The United States embassy in Dar Es Salaam has warned against an anti-gay crackdown in Tanzania. Travel is dangerous for persons perceived to be homosexuals. Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Tanzania. The Mtwara Region in southern Tanzania should be avoided due to the threat of terrorism.

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Brief History

Tanzania is probably one of the oldest countries ever to be known continuously inhabited areas on Earth; fossil remains of humans and pre-human hominids have been found dating back over two million years. About 2,000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people began to arrive from western Africa in a series of migrations. Later, Nilotic pastoralists arrived, and continued to immigrate into the area through to the 18th century. Travellers and merchants from the Persian Gulf and Western India have visited the East African coast since early in the first millennium AD. Islam was practised on the Swahili coast as early as the eighth or ninth century AD. Claiming the coastal strip, Omani Sultan Seyyid Said moved his capital to Zanzibar City in 1840. During this time, Zanzibar became the center for the Arab slave trade.

In the late 19th century, Imperial Germany conquered the regions that are now Tanzania (minus Zanzibar), Rwanda, and Burundi, and incorporated them into German East Africa. During World War I, an invasion attempt by the British was thwarted by German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, who then mounted a drawn out guerrilla campaign against the British. The post-World War I accords and the League of Nations charter designated the area a British Mandate, except for a small area in the northwest, which was ceded to Belgium and later became Rwanda and Burundi). British rule came to an end in 1961 after a relatively peaceful (compared with neighbouring Kenya, for instance) transition to independence, with Julius Nyerere as the first president. After the Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the Arab regime in neighboring Zanzibar, which had become independent in 1963, the island merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the nation of Tanzania on 26 April 1964. Nyerere set up one-party rule. The communist bloc powers of China, East Germany and the USSR established friendly relations with the new regime. Corruption was rampant.

Years of socialism left the country as one of the poorest, the least developed and the most aid-dependent in the world. From the mid 1980s, the regime financed itself by borrowing from the International Monetary Fund and underwent some reforms. From the mid 1980s Tanzania's GDP per capita has grown and poverty has been reduced and tourism has risen to proportions which are becoming almost beyond sustainability.

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Geography

At 947,300 km², Tanzania is the world's 31st-largest country. Compared to other African countries, it is slightly smaller than Egypt and comparable in size to Nigeria. It lies mostly between latitudes 1° and 12°S, and longitudes 29° and 41°E. Tanzania is mountainous in the northeast, where Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, is situated. To the north and west are Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (the continent's deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish); to the southwest lies Lake Nyasa. Central Tanzania comprises a large plateau, with plains and arable land. The eastern shore is hot and humid, with the island of Zanzibar lying just offshore.
Tanzania contains many large and ecologically significant wildlife parks, including the famous Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south. Gombe National Park in the west is known as the site of Dr. Jane Goodall's studies of chimpanzee behaviour. The government of Tanzania through its department of tourism has embarked on a campaign to promote the Kalambo water falls in the southwestern region of Rukwa as one of Tanzania's main tourist destinations. The Kalambo Falls are the second highest in Africa and are located near the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika. The Menai Bay Conservation Area is Zanzibar's largest marine protected area. The Engaresero village on the Western shores of Lake Natron has been chosen by the government of Tanzania to exemplify the Maasai pastoral system given its singularity, integrity, high diversity of habitats and biodiversity. The site also has major additional significance, because of the presence of Lake Natron and the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, which have immense ecological, geological and cultural value. The community has demonstrated a strong resilience in facing threats to their systems, and has maintained associated social and cultural institutions, which ensure its sustainability under prevailing environmental conditions.

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Regions

  • Northwestern Tanzania includes the Serengeti and access to Lake Victoria.
  • North Coast of Tanzania - includes untouched beaches around Pangani
  • North Coast of Tanzania
  • Central Tanzania is a vast grassland plateau
  • Northern Highlands - includes Africa's tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro
  • Southern Highlands - Ruaha National Park, volcanic mountains, crater lakes, natural attractions, waterfalls, beautiful Matema Beach
  • Southern Tanzania
  • Western Tanzania includes Lake Tanganyika and Katavi National Park
  • Zanzibar, an island off Tanzania's coast in the Indian Ocean.

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Cities

  • Dar es Salaam - the biggest city
  • Dodoma - the capital
  • Arusha - gateway to the Kilimanjaro and northern parks
  • Moshi - another gateway to the Kilimanjaro
  • Mwanza - in the northwest along the shores of Lake Victoria
  • Kigoma - in the west along the shores of Lake Tanganyika
  • Tanga
  • Tobora - central west of the country
  • Iringa - central Tanzania
  • Morogoro - centre of the country, in between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma
  • Mbeya - south of the country, gateway to Zambia
  • Mtwara - southeast of Tanzania

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Sights and Activities

Tanzania is one of the best countries in Africa to experience a real African safari and along with Kenya it probably is the best in East Africa. For more information about a safari in Tanzania check the safari article for more details about possibilities, costs and parks to choose from. For relaxation after the safari there are plenty of beaches along the shoreline of Tanzania, such as Pangani area in the North or the beaches south of Dar es Salaam all the way to Mozambique.

Serengeti National Park

Zebras in the Serengeti

Zebras in the Serengeti

© Utrecht

Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, the Serengeti National Park is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. It is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. It is possible to see all of the Big Five in the park, though with off-roading being illegal you will probably have to rely on binoculars to see any leopards, as they are generally hiding in the treetops.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater with its steep walls of 610 metres has become a natural enclosure for a very wide variety of wildlife, including most of the species found in East Africa, except the giraffe.

After a good meal in Ngorongoro

After a good meal in Ngorongoro

© Utrecht


Aside from herds of zebra, gazelle and wildebeest, the crater is home to the "big five" of rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, and is often an excellent chance to see wildlife.

Selous Game Reserve

The Selous Game Reserve is the second biggest game reserve of Africa and you can find wild dogs, elephants, black rhinos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and many more different kinds of wildlife living in the same areas. Relatively undisturbed by human impact, this is a great place to go and usually a better option that the more crowded Serengeti National Park. Covering 50,000 square kilometres of land, this Reserve was made an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. There are a few good lodges that you can stay at in the Reserve, as well as many different guided safaris.

Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park isn't the biggest park in Tanzania but it is by far the most remote and is jam packed with game. It's famous for having the highest density of mammals per square kilometre of all Tanzania's parks and for its huge herds of buffalo (up to 2,000). However, the best feature is that few people know about Katavi. Because of that, it only receives about 300 visitors per year in comparison with Serengeti's 2 million. The park entrance fees are also considerably less than all other Tanzanian parks.

Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park is a Tanzanian national park, located 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of the equator and in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The park is located near the city of Moshi. The park includes the whole of Mount Kilimanjaro above the tree line and the surrounding montane forest belt above 1,820 metres. It covers an area of 1,688 square kilometres, 2°50'–3°10'S latitude, 37°10'–37°40'E longitude. The park is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TNPA).

Lake Tanganyika

Tanganyika Sunset

Tanganyika Sunset

© robandpol

Lake Tanganyika is the longest and second deepest lake in the world. It is also estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume. It is not easy to get to, but the long dirt roads are well worth it. It is absolutely stunning and its crystal clear waters are full with at least 250 different kinds of fish. Since 2004, the lake has been a massive focus to monitor the state of the lake, improve water quality, and set common criteria for acceptable levels of sediments and pollution. In fact, the water is so clean that in some places of Lake Tanganyika, you can drink it!

Pangani

Pangani has always been a point of interest and a busy harbor town throughout the centuries. These days the little town seems a bit sleepy and will give you the impression of Africa some decades back. The beaches around that area are still unspoiled and not much visited, hence a good alternative to Zanzibar.

Other Sights and Activities

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Events and Festivals

In Tanzania, the best places to enjoy festivals are Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

  • Festival of the Dhow Countries - Held in early July every year, this festival is one of music and movies. It is a two-week festival, with a week-long International Film Festival held in Zanzibar. This a great festival for music and movie lovers as there is something to do every day with local screenings throughout the city.
  • Mwaka Kongwa Festival - A four-day event held in July/August, the Mwaka Konwa Festival is a must see for visitors to Tanzania. This festival is where locals will gather, men thrash each other with banana stalks to settle arguments from the previous year, and women dress up, sing, and dance. There is even a straw hut that is set on fire and a big feast after that! It is a really great look into local Tanzanian culture.
  • Bagamoyo Arts Festival - Held in the coastal town of Bagamoyo, between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, this week-long festival is great to be a part of! The Babamoyo Arts Festival features traditional and contemporary music and dance, as well as grand exhibitions, acrobatic shows, and workshops.
  • Unification Day - Arguably one of the biggest celebrations in Tanzania, Unification Day is celebrated on April 26, when the Zanzibar Islands joined Tanganyika (now known as the Republic of Tanzania) in 1964. Locals get dressed up in their traditional garb in the main cities and you can expect plenty of flag waving and parades.
  • Wanyambo Festival - The Wanyambo Festival is one of the best opportunities to check out the local culture of Tanzania in early January. The event is staged in the northern area of Dar es Salaam known as Makumbusho, with lots of traditional music, dance, costumes, and food.
  • Kiliman Adventure Challenge - A triathlon if there ever was one, the Kiliman Adventure Challenge involves three gruelling events in February to discover the “KiliMan.” Events include a hike up Mount Kilimanjaro (not judged), followed by a mountain bike jaunt around the great circumference, and finally the Kilimanjaro Marathon.
  • Kilimanjaro Marathon - A separate entity from the Kiliman Adventure Challenge, the Kilimanjaro Marathon is a road race under the guise of the world’s highest solitary mountain. There’s also a half marathon and fun runs so everyone can get involved. The events take place in late February when it’s the coolest.
  • Mzalendo Halisi Music Festival - A two-day music festival in May, Mzalendo Halisi is staged in Kigitonyama in northwest Dar es Salaam. It features traditional Tanzanian music by local performers along with art and cultural exhibitions.
  • Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair - For those in Arusha in May/June, the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair is a must to partake in, the biggest of its kind in East Africa. There are all sorts of Tanzanian items for purchase, from gemstones and furniture to safari gear and wine.
  • Mwaka Kogwa Festival - This four-day event in July/August is a must for visitors to Zanzibar, when village men thrash each other with banana stalks to settle arguments from the previous year. Women dress up, sing and dance, a straw hut is set on fire and a feast ensues.
  • Eid al-Fitr - Zanzibar is the place to witness Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan in August. The best site is Makunduchi where there is much pageantry, dancing and dining.

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Weather

Tanzania generally has a warm tropical climate with humid weather year round. Temperatures are generally around 30 °C during the day and still above 20 °C at night at most places around the coast and on Zanzibar as well as places more south and west. In the central and central north though conditions are somewhat different with temperatures during the day slightly lower during the cooler June to September period, but a bit higher in the hot December to February period. Night temperatures can drop below 10 °C at night though during the cooler June to September period, mainly because of the altitude of places like Arusha and the capital Dodoma. The central parts of the country have a totally dry time during these months as well, whereas the coastal areas and Zanzibar never are entirely dry. Instead, they have a long wet season from March to May with April being the wettest month. It can rain for several days on end, whereas during the short wet period from late October to early December rain usually comes in late afternoon downpours. Note that some parts like the Ngorongoro Crater Rim and the higher parts of the Kilimanjaro mountain never get really hot.

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Getting there

Plane

Air Tanzania is the national airline of the country and is based at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) near Dar es Salaam. It offers flights to/from Blantyre, Lilongwe, Arusha, Moroni, Entebbe, Juba, Nairobi, Harare, London, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Addis Ababa, Anjouan, Cairo, Lusaka, Dubai, Amsterdam, Maputo, Muscat, Doha, Kigali, Zürich and Istanbul.

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is probably of more importance to travellers as it is closer to the Kilimanjaro mountain and safari parks. There are direct flights from Amsterdam with KLM and Frankfurt with Condor. Other flights are mainly within the continent.

Train

Centrally located in Zambia, north of the capital Lusaka, Kapiri Mposhi is the starting point of a two nights train ride to Dar es Salaam on the Tanzanian coast. From here you can travel further by boat or plane to the tropical island of spices, Zanzibar. This so called TAZARA Railway (Tanzania-Zambia Railway) operates scheduled services twice a week, leaving in both ends of the line on Tuesdays and Fridays around 4:00pm, arriving on Thursdays and Sundays at 9:30am in Zambia, but after noon in the other direction in Dar es Salaam.

By Car

Travelling to and from Tanzania is straightforward, provided you have your car papers and insurance in order. A bribe usually is not necessary, though you never know in Africa. You can use a lot of border crossings, mainly with Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda and Malawi.

By Bus

Buses connect Dar es Salaam with Lusaka in Zambia, taking almost 30 hours to cover the distance. Buses also travel several times a week between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe in Malawi.

By Boat

There are boats across Lake Tanganyika to and from Zambia and across Lake Malawi to and from Malawi.
The trip to Zambia starts in Kigoma, usually on Fridays or Satudays. There are ferries between southwestern Tanzania and Mozambique via Malawi on the MV Songea between Mbamba Bay and Nkhata Bay. From here it goes on to Likoma Island (Malawi), Cóbuè and Metangula (both in Mozambique) on the MV Ilala. The MV Ilala departs from Monkey Bay (Malawi) at 10am Friday, arriving in Metangula (via Chipoka and Nkhotakota in Malawi) at 6am Saturday, reaching Cóbuè (Mozambique) around midday, Likoma Island at 1.30pm and Nkhata Bay at 1am Sunday morning. In southern direction departures are at 8pm Monday from Nkhata Bay and at 6.30am Tuesday from Likoma Island, reaching Cóbuè at 7am and Metangula at midday.

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Getting around

Plane

Tanzania has four international airports located within its borders and over 100 smaller airports or landing strips. Precision Air flies between Bukoba, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Musoma, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Tabora and Zanzibar. Air Tanzania has several flights as well between Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. http://www.coastal.cc|Coastal Air]] has flights between many private air strips and the country and the major towns and cities, as well as the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.

By Train

Tanzania Railways Corporation has services from Dar es Salaam to the interior at Tabora. Here, a branch goes to Kigoma in the west and one goes south to Mwanza.
Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority has twice a week trains between Dar es Salaam and Zambia, with stops in Tanzania on the route as well.

By Car

Tanzania has a surprisingly well maintained network of tarred roads, which constitutes for 80% of its passenger traffic, and some secondary dirt roads which are passable at all times. Many other roads on the other hand become impassable after heavy rains. It is best to rent 4wd vehicles, especially if you want to explore the beautiful national parks that Tanzania has to offer.

Traffic drives on the left and cars can be hired at major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, also with a driver if you prefer. A national driver's licence is valid as long as it is in English, otherwise an international driving permit is recommended. Note that it is expensive to rent cars, so it is best to split up the costs with several persons.

By Bus

There are dozens of bus companies, one of which is Scandinavia Express (yes, you have read it right!), offering services between all major cities and regional towns, like Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Tabora, Dodoma, Mwanza, Moshi, Morogoro and Kigoma.

Alongside the large bus companies are smaller independents who run 'Dala Dala's'. These are small people carriers, transit vans and converted pick-up trucks. They run all the main routes and many more. Simply turn up, hop on and off you go. There are two slight drawbacks, they only go when they are full and even when they are full, they can squeeze more on. In general though, they are cheap, fast and fun.

By Boat

Azam Marine and Sea Express run frequent, fast and comfortable hydrofoils and catamarans between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, taking around one and a half hour each way. There are also services from Zanzibar to Pemba.

There are ferries on Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. There is an overnight service on Lake Victoria between the ports of Bukoba and Mwanza which takes 10 hours. The service on Lake Tanganyika runs between Kigoma in the west of Tanzania and Mpulunga in Zambia at the south of the lake, stopping at other Tanzanian places as well.

By Bike

It's a great country to cycle through. Traffic can be bad at times, so it can be dangerous especially since bikes don't have the right of way. It's best to keep an eye out for cars. In the rural areas, watch out for the wildlife and predators!

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Red Tape

No visa is required for stays of less than 3 months for citizens of Namibia, Romania, Rwanda, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and all commonwealth member states (except the United Kingdom, Canada, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Nigeria, India & South Africa). A Tourist Visa costs US$50 or US$100 for a three-month single entry and a three-month double entry visa, respectively. The visa can be obtained upon landing in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and ports of entry. The wait can be especially long if your flight arrives at the same time as other international flights. Visas are valid for the duration from the date of issuance. However, obtaining a visa before arrival is highly recommended. Holders of a U.S. passport can only obtain a US$100 multiple-entry visa. US travellers departing from the U.S. can pay US$20 for a rush service, which takes three working days. The website of Tanzania Embassy in the U.S. gives the current requirements. Visas may also be obtained from any of Tanzania's diplomatic mission abroad. A visa when entering Zanzibar is US$50 and US$25 when leaving.

Tanzania has extra requirements for anyone who is not visiting for tourism purposes. Any sort of business visit requires a temporary work permit called a CTA (Carrying on Temporary Assignment). This costs US$200 and required filling out a form. Up to 6 passport sized photos will also be required. Not having this can cause problems. Entering Zanzibar for example will be difficult without it if you are not a tourist. See the Tanzania Immigration Service website for more details.

When crossing by ground at the Namanga border crossing (e.g. travelling from Nairobi, Kenya to Arusha, Tanzania), you will need to cross the border on foot. Scammers in the no man's land between the border control offices of Kenya and Tanzania will try several scams, including offering outrageously poor currency exchange rates and pretending to be officials selling Tanzania visa stamps. Those attempting to sell the Tanzania visa stamps will act official and ask to see your passport, then they will place an item (a small Tanzanian bank note) in your passport, close the passport, and request the visa-on-arrival fee. Only do business with the immigration offices and adjacent banks, located in established government buildings. Do not stop or interact with people in the no-man's land in between.

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Money

See also Money Matters

The local currency is the Shilling, which can only be obtained in Tanzania. Coins are available in 50, 100 and 1,000 cents and bank notes in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5,000 and 10,000 shillings. Please note that older or torn notes are not accepted everywhere, so you should carry newer bank notes. The 10,000 and 5,000 notes can be difficult to break when shopping in small shops, a.k.a. dukas. In Tanzania, it's usually the customer's responsibility to provide exact change. But if they do agree to provide change, you could be left with several 1000 and 500 notes of very poor quality. However, you won't have such problems in the large hotels and restaurants catering to foreigners.

US dollars are welcome in all shops, but they often give back in Shilling at unfavourable exchange rates. ATM's can be found in many large cities and usually have their own security guards. Please note that the daily cash withdrawal limit is about US$300 which you receive in local Tanzanian Shilling.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de changes and most hotels have forex facilities (keep in mind that the rates here can be higher than the ones in banks). Please note that money exchange on streets is prohibited and even dangerous. Major banks are open from 09:00am-3:00pm Monday till Friday and from 09:00am-11:00am on Saturdays.

International credit cards are accepted by most stores, restaurants, hotels, camps, lodges, car rental firms etc. However they are not widely used and many small shops in rural areas will not accept them. You will have to pay a surcharge between 5-15%, if you use a credit card.
Tanzania does not have any restrictions about the amount of foreign currency or travellers cheques you may bring with you.

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Work

There is a wide assortment of volunteer organisations sending volunteers and interns to Tanzania to do work in health care, orphanages, education, and development projects. Finding a paying job may be more of a daunting task, taking more time and making use of local connections, but a job could be certainly obtainable when sought hard enough.

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Study

Various schools and volunteer programs offer courses ranging from Beginners Swahili to Economic Development. Dar es Salaam also has a well-established University, which has exchange programs with several universities in the US and other countries.

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Language

The two most spoken languages are the Bantu Swahili language and English, the latter inherited by colonial rule. They serve as the two official languages. Currently, around 10% of people from Tanzania speak Swahili as a first language, and up to 90% of them speak it as a second language. Most Tanzanians are not only bilingual, knowing how to speak Swahili as well as their local language, but many are also trilingual and are able to speak English.

Tanzania is a multilingual country; they have many languages that are spoken in their country but no single language is spoken natively by a majority of the population. There are over 129 languages that exist in Tanzania, 126 are still actively being spoken and 3 are no longer spoken or ‘extinct’. .

Within Tanzania’s various populations and ethnic groups, they typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. Among the languages spoken in Tanzania, all of the four major languages of Africa’s language families are present including: Bantu, Cushitic, Nilotic, and Khoisan. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used to varying degrees of fluency when communicating with other populations. In 1984, the nation announced that Swahili is the language of the political sphere and primary/adult education, and English would be the language of secondary education/universities, technology, and the courts. People are encouraged to use Swahili, particularly in urban areas, as often as possible in an attempt to unify the many different ethnic groups that live in Tanzania.

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Eat

The food in Tanzania is of a relatively high standard, with less chance of catching stomach complaints than in other countries in the region.

As with many other African countries, their most common cultural dish is Ugali. Usually composed of corn, with a similar consistency to a stiff paste or porridge, this dish isn't bad to eat for those who have never tried it before! Other local foods that are typically eaten are mixtures of cassava and millet flours (also used for ugali), rice, cooked green bananas, beef, goat meat, beans, fish, and leafy green vegetables.

Street food is also cheap and plentiful. Barbecued maize on the cob is very nice, as are the chipped potatoes (fries), cooked over a roaring fire.
Mandazi is a sweet doughnut-styled food that is mostly made fresh each morning. Great with coffee in the morning, it makes an ideal snack.

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Sleep

Although Tanzania is still considered a third world country, there are many great places to stay, especially the parks, on Zanzibar and some larger cities. Accommodation options range from backpacker hostels and cheap pensions to luxurious hotels and lodges and anything in between.

One of the other great places to stay in Tanzania is in the south in a place called Selous Game Reserve, which is Africa’s largest reserve as well as a World heritage site. You can see all kinds of wildlife there including elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, hippos, and crocodiles. Although accommodation is somewhat limited there, there are plenty of nice places to stay.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest and richest city there are many different hotels and guest houses to stay.

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Drink

Bottled water is cheap and widely available throughout the country. You shouldn't drink the tap water unless you have no other option, and it must either be filtered with a high quality filter and purifier or brought to a boil before consumption. Recent tests on tap water have found it contaminated with e-coli bacteria.

Konyagi is a wonderful gin-like beverage, sold only in Tanzania. Domestic beers are Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Safari, which are western-style and very good. Imports include Tusker, Stella Artois, and Castle. Locally produced banana-beer is also available at times, but questionably safe to drink. Traditionally, you will drink this out of a hollowed gourd. First drink the guests, who then pass it to the elders. In some parts of Tanzania, fermented bamboo juice (Pombe) is the common tipple.

Passion fruit, mango, and orange juices are available in many restaurants, and excellent when the fruits are in season. Soft drinks are widely available; Stoney Tangawizi (ginger ale - tangawizi means 'ginger', in Swahili) is one of the most popular. Other popular beverages are Orange Fanta, Bitter Lemon, Soda Water, Tonic Water, and Lassi (a sweet or salty yogurt drink).

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Health

See also Travel Health

There are no vaccinations legally required to travel to Tanzania. There are two exceptions though. You have to have a cholera stamp (prove of the fact that you don't have that disease) when going to Zanzibar. And you need a yellow fever vaccination if you have travelled to a country (7 days or less before entering Tanzania) where that disease is widely prevalent. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended anyway!

Still, it's a good thing to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to Tanzania. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also both hepatitis A as well as typhoid would be recommended.

If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk (travelling by bike, handling of animals, visits to caves) you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against Tuberculosis as well as hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months. When staying longer than 6 months, vaccination against meningitis might be recommended, depending on your contact with other people.

Like most African countries south of the Sahara, Malaria is prevalent in the country. Don't underestimate this tropical disease and take precautions. Buy repellent (preferably with 50% DEET), and sleep under a net.

Finally, other possible health issues include diarrhea and other general travellers' diseases like motion sickness. Watch what you eat and drink and in case you get it, drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration) and bring ORS. Also note that Southern Africa and thus Tanzania as well has a high percentage of people with AIDS.

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Safety

See also Travel Safety

As in many impoverished countries, caution should always be exercised, particularly in tourist areas, such as Arusha, Stone Town (Zanzibar), and Dar es Salaam. Violent crime against foreigners is not uncommon, particularly against those walking alone at night, which is not recommended. Pickpocketing and con artists are also common. Pickpockets work crowded markets, like Kariakoo, and bus stations. Don't be fooled by small children who are often forced into a life of crime by older kids or parents - never carry anything of value in your pockets and don't let expensive camera equipment dangle from your neck. Don't leave bags unattended or even out of your sight when on the beach.

In general, avoid isolated areas, especially after dark. Travelling in large groups is safer. If there are many people or security guards around (e.g. city center areas) you should be relatively safe.

The safest way to travel is by taxi with a driver you know, especially when it's dark out (late night or early morning). Although it's uncommon, taxi drivers have been known to rob tourists. Get the number for a taxi you trust, from your hotel or a local.

Buses have infrequently been stopped by robbers on long-distance (often overnight) routes. If you have to travel a long distance by bus, it might be better to break it into multiple day-only trips, or to travel by plane or train.

In the event of an incident, the police may or may not make a strong effort to identify the culprits, but obtaining a police report is necessary if you plan on filing an insurance claim later, or if important documents are stolen. Make sure the police report indicates if your papers were stolen; otherwise you may have difficulty leaving the country. You should immediately contact your local embassy or consulate in the event that your passport is taken.

Tanzania, like many developing countries, suffers from corruption. Police are poorly paid - many make less than US$40/month. You may be solicited for a bribe by an official willing to turn a blind eye to your infraction, fabricated or otherwise. Some travellers are very much averse to paying bribes to anyone, especially in a country with so many needy but honest citizens.

Fraudsters are known to impersonate police, sometimes in the guise of an "immigration official" who identifies a problem with your documents. They will flash official-looking papers at you. But there are many plainclothes officers as well. And if you are confronted with someone in uniform, they will almost certainly be an actual officer.

On-the-spot-fine is one term used for a bribe. Those words are meant to initiate a conversation about money. You may be told that the real fine is TSh 40,000 or more and that for TSh 20,000 or 30,000, paid immediately, you can be on your way and avoid a trip to the police station to pay a higher fine.

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Keep Connected

Internet

Major tourist areas and cities have internet cafes and many hotels offer (free) wifi nowadays. Connections can be slower at more remote places.
Also safari oriented places offer some sort of internet connections as well, by computers or wifi.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

The International Dialling Code for Tanzania is +255, followed by area codes (e.g. (0)22 for Dar es Salaam, or (0)27 for Arusha). Calling from Tanzania, you dial 00 plus the relevant country code (44 for the UK, 1 for the USA).

There are four cell providers in Tanzania: Zain (the major one), Zantel, Vodacom and Tigo, who all offer roaming facilities. Connections are good in Tanzania, even in places such as Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and some parts of the Serengeti (the western and northern region of the Serengeti not). You can buy the prepaid cards in amounts ranging from $5 to $50. You can even buy a cell phone while in Tanzania. The price for a simple cell phone ranges between $25 and $80, the sim card costs around $3 to buy. Ask how to buy cheap internet or call bundles.

Avoid roaming charges with you home cellphone and turn it off. Instead, use a local SIM card or just wifi.

Post

Tanzania Posts Corporation is the national postal services of Tanzania. There are post offices in most major cities and towns throughout the country, which are generally open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm and Saturday from 9:00am to noon. Services are generally quite reliable though not very fast. Prices for international airmail services start at around 500-600 TSHS to other countries in East Africa and 700-900 TSHS to Europe and North America for postcards and letters up to 20 grams. Small packages start at around 2,000-3,000 TSHS, but it's generally better to do business with international parcel services like TNT, UPS, DHL or FedEx.

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Quick Facts

Tanzania flag

Map of Tanzania

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Capital
Dodoma
Government
Republic
Nationality
Tanzanian
Population
35,922,000
Languages
Swahili, English
Religions
Islam, Indigenous Beliefs, Christianity
Calling Code
+255
Currency
Tanzania Shilling (TZS)
Time Zone
EAT (UTC+3)

Contributors

as well as GAdventures (7%), Peter (4%), compact (2%), hasbeen (2%), Hien (2%), GregW (2%), robandpol (1%), tatona (1%), dr.pepper (<1%), alsalis (<1%), Lavafalls (<1%)

Tanzania Travel Helpers

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Explore your accommodation options in Tanzania

This is version 87. Last edited at 11:54 on Oct 13, 23 by Utrecht. 73 articles link to this page.

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